Animal-trap.



No. 666,625. Patented 1an. 22, |90I.

J. B. TDMPKINSQDB'G. P. V. MOALES, Adminisratr. ANIMAL TRAP.

. (Appucaziog med .my 11, 1900,: (N Model.)

Y 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 666,625'. .Patented 1an. 2.2, |90.

' J. B. TMPKINS, Decd.

P. V. MDALES, Administrator. ANIMAL TRAP.

(Appximmn med Julyqi, '1900.1

NWB

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-fSheet 2.

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UNITED STATES FATENT FFIC.

PHARMAR V. MOALES, OF CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, ADMINISTRATOR OF JAMES B. TOMPKINS, DEOEASED. I

ANIMAL-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 666,62 5, dated January 22, 1901. Application filed July 11, 1900. Serial No. 23,275. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concen: 1 designates a box or casing forming a cage Be it known that I, PHARMAR'V. MOALES, or receptacle for captured animals and proa citizen of the United States, residing at vided at its top with an opening 2, in which Charleston, in the county of Kanawha and is arranged a trap-door 3, mounted on a trans- 5 5 5 State of West Virginia, administrator of the verse shaft 4 and adapted when tripped, as estate of JAMES B. TOMPKINS, deceased, late hereinafter described, to precipitate a rat or a citizen of the United States, residing at other animal attracted by the bait into the Apgah, in the county of Kanawha and State box or casing. One end of the box or casing of West Virginia,(as by reference to the dulyis provided with a sliding door 5, which en- 6o 1o certified copy of letters of administration now ables the captured animals to be readily reon tile at the United States Patent Office will moved. more fully appear,) do hereby declare that The transverse shaft 4, which carries the JAMES B. TOMPKINS invented and produced rotating trap-door 3, extends beyond one side a new and useful Animal-Trap, of which the of thecasing and has a pulley or drum 6 fixed 65 15 following is a speciication.- to it and receiving one end of a cord 7 or other The invention relates to improvements in suitable flexible connection, which when animal-traps. wound around the pulley or drum is adapted One object of the present invention is to to be unwound therefrom by the action of a improve the construction of self-set and everweight 8, whereby the trap-door is partially 7o 2o set animal-traps and to provide an eXceedrotated when tripped. The -weight is secured ingly-sensitive one, which will be operated to one end of the cord 7, which passes over a by the slightest attempt to obtain the bait pulley 9, that is supported in an elevated poand which will be positive and reliable in opsition by an arm or standard 10, and the lateration. ter, which is hinged at its lower end at l1 to 75 2 5 A further object of the invention is to prothe top of the casing, is held by a hook 1'0a vide means whereby, when the trap is run and is adapted to fold upon the same to endown the rotary trap-door will be automatable the trap to be compactly arrangedfor ically locked in its closed position to prevent shipping or storing. The arm or standard 10 any of the captured animals from escaping. is mounted at one end of the casing, adja- 8o 3o The invention consists in the construction cent to one side thereof, and that run of the and novel combination and arrangement of cord which extends from the pulley or drum parts, as hereinafter fully described, illusto the arm or standard 10 is disposed at an trated in the .accompanying drawings, and inclination. pointed out in the claims hereto appended. The trap-door, which is oblong, as shown, 85 35 In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective is provided at each end with a longitudinal view of an animal-trap constructed in accordprojection or finger 12, arranged to be supance with this invention. Fig.` 2 is an end ported by an arm 13 of a trigger 14, consistelevation of thesame. Fig. Sis alongitudinal ing of a rock-shaft provided at its bottom sectional view. Fig. 4 is a transverse secwith the said arm 13 and having a bait-receiv- 9o 4o tional view, the locking device being swung ing arm 15 at its upper end. The stem or upward for holding the trigger stationary. connecting portion of the trigger is disposed Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the vertically on a support 16 and is arranged in trap, the parts being arranged as shown in suitable bearings 17 thereof. The lower arm Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of 13 of the trigger is substantially L-shaped, 95 45 the trigger. Fig. 7 is a similar View of the and the outer portion is arranged to receive locking device. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional and extend beneath the adjacent projection View illustrating the manner of supporting vor finger 12 of the trap-door, and the upper the trap-door in a horizontal position. arm has an angular bend at its inner end to Like numerals of reference designate correoffset it from the support l5. The bait for roo 5o sponding parts in all the figures of the drawattracting the animals is attached to the upings. per 'arm and may be of any character to suit the animals to be captured. When the upper arm is drawn outward by reason of an animal pulling at the bait, the lower arm is swung from beneath the supported projection or finger and the trap-door is rapidly'rotated one-half a revolution by the weight, thereby precipitating the animal int the casing and returning to a horizontal position for another operation. The trigger is returned to its initial position by a bowed spring 18, extending upward from the top of the casing and secured at its outer` end to the same and having its inner end bearing against the lower arm of the trigger. The inner end of the spring which engages the lower arm of the trigger is provided with an angularly-disposed hook or projection 19,'which extends beneath the lower arm 13, so that there is no liability of the hook becoming accidentally disengaged from the trigger.

In order to prevent the supported end of the trap-door from swinging upward when its other end is subjected to the weight of an animal, a spring 20 is provided and is arranged adjacent to the spring 18. The spring, which is constructed of heavier material than thetrigger-engaging spring, is substantially V-sha-ped, its outer side being securedto the casing and its inner side being provided with a horizontal arm or extension 2l, located above the adjacent projection or finger. The inner side of the V-shaped spring is arranged at an inclination and is readily depressed and passed by the projections or lingers of the trap-door when the latter is rotated.

The cord 7 is provided a short distance from the end that is secured to the drum or pulley with a projection 22, arranged to engage one arm 23 of a locking device 24:, which is pivotally mounted on the back at one end thereof at 25. The arm 23, which is substantially L-shaped, extends around the arm or standard 10 and is provided at its outer end with an eye or opening through which the cord passes. The locking device is provided at its outer end with an angularly-bent arm 26, extending through an opening of the support 16 and located beneath the upper arm of the trigger. The arm 26 of the locking device is provided at its outer end with a projection or hook which when swung upward is adapted to engage and hold the upper arm of the trigger against the support 16, whereby the trapdoor is locked out of operation, so that when the trap is run down the door cannot be accidentally opened and permit any of the captured animals to escape. As the last of the cord is unwound from the pulley or drum of the transverse shaft the projection engages the outerarm of the locking device and swings the same upward to the position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.V The support 16 preferably consists of" an end wall or flange, and the casing is also provided with a longitudinal side wall or ange 27, as clearly shown in the drawings.

It `will be noted that the weight 8 and its i ceases connections constitute a motor and may be said to be run down when it has moved to such position as to render it ineifective for the further operation of the door.

The invention has the following advantages: The trap, which is self-setting, is simi ple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, and it is exceedingly sensitive and positive and reliable in operation. The slightest pull on the bait trips the trap-door, and

after the trap has run down the trap-door is automatically locked ont of operation, so that it cannot be accidentally opened and permit the escapev of any of the captured animals.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages cf this invention.

What isclaimed is- 1. A trap comprising a casing, a trap-door, a trigger retaining said door, and door-operating mechanism operatively connected with the trigger to lock itin an inoperative position.

2. A trap comprising a casing, a trap-door,

-a trigger therefor, door-operating-mechanism,

the latter, and a locking device arranged to engage the trigger for holding the trap-door in its closed position, said locking device being arranged to be actuated by the operating mechanism, substantially as described.

5. A trap comprising a frame or casing, a rotary trap-door having a drumv or pulley, a cord wound around the drum or pulley and provided with a weight, said cord being provided with aprojection, a trigger, and a locking device arranged to be actuated by the projection of the cord and adapted to engage the trigger, substantially as described. y

6. A trap comprising a frame or casing, a rotary trap-door having a drum, a cord Wound around the drum and providedv with a weight, a trigger, and a pivotally-mounted locking device having anarm for engaging the trigger at one end, its other end being arranged to be operated by the saidcord, substantially as described. n

7. A trap comprising a frame or casing, a

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rotary trap-door, a trigger consisting of a y with the trigger, and means for operating the locking device as the motor becomes ineffective.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as the invention of JAMES B. ToMPKINs I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

v PHARMAR V. MOALES, Administrator of the estate ofJames B. Tompkins, deceased.

Witnesses:

WILLIS PETTIT, HoWARD C. SMITH. 

